Grey Beard

He was 9 years old when his folk left home on a wagon heading west
When his mom and dad knew he'd grow bad by the mark of the devil on his chest
On 17 he turned up mean, he already made his bid
He had a name in the fast gun gang and they called him “The Devil Kid."

Now the kid’s name grew and his gang did too
When it all goes town appeared,
sitting there in the Marshal’s chair
It’s the one they called “Grey Beard."

Did you better quit, while the quitting's good
‘Cause it’s always one as bigger
There’ll be one guy with a faster eye
Who’s lighting on the trigger.

Let me tell you son
Buy a real fast gun that every outlaw fears
He made his name in this killing game
It’s the one they call “Grey Beard.”

He had a drawing hand like no other man
It was faster than the eye
And there were always plenty of kids about 20
Just couldn’t wait to die.

He was a fast gun looking to make a name
And hooking was his virtue and killing was a game.

So the kid said: “Tell me where is this man who never feared a gun”
Grey Beard raised his head and said: “You’re looking at him, son”
So the kid tried staring Grey Beard down with eyes like ace of dice
And Grey beard’s frown, turned upside down to a smile as cold as ice.

So the devil kid reached for his gun with a draw as fast as light
But he lost the game to a shot that came from somewhere out of sight
And as the kid went down and he hit the ground
Before he lost his mind, he heard:
Grey Beard snicker, I was even quicker before I went stone blind.

Fast gun looking to make a name
And hooking was his virtue
He’s killed ace game.